Electronic vaporizer

ABSTRACT

An electronic vaporizer includes a battery, a set of controls, a heating vessel activated by the set of controls, an airflow dial formed above the heating vessel, a dial air exhaust passage, a tank configured to receive a liquid, and a mouthpiece. The airflow dial has a downward intake air conduit for directing intake airflow toward the heating chamber at a location off-center from the center of the heating chamber. The airflow dial is configured to be rotatable at least 180 degrees. The dial air exhaust passage is formed through the airflow dial. The tank is in airflow connection to the airflow dial. The mouthpiece is in airflow connection to the tank.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of electronic vaporizers.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

A variety of different electronic vaporizers have been described in the prior art for smoking articles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An electronic vaporizer includes a battery, a set of controls, a heating vessel activated by the set of controls, an airflow dial formed above the heating vessel, a dial air exhaust passage, a tank configured to receive a liquid, and a mouthpiece. The airflow dial has a downward intake air conduit for directing intake airflow toward the heating chamber at a location off-center from the center of the heating chamber. The airflow dial is configured to be rotatable at least 180 degrees, although it is preferable to be 360 degrees rotatable. The dial air exhaust passage is formed through the airflow dial. The tank is in airflow connection to the airflow dial. The mouthpiece is in airflow connection to the tank.

The dial air exhaust passage exhausts to a mixing chamber, and the mixing chamber exhausts to the tank. The dial air exhaust passage is off-center from the heating vessel center. The airflow dial has a horizontal intake air conduit passing air to a downward intake air conduit. The airflow dial has a dial upper pivot and a dial lower pivot. The airflow dial has a dial grip with a dial vent opening formed on a grip gap of the airflow dial. A right air grille is mounted to a right side of the airflow dial, and a left air grille is mounted to a left side of the airflow dial. The right air grille and the left air grille both have air grille openings to allow airflow through the right air grille and the left air grille.

The upper housing fits over the tray. The heating vessel is mounted in the tray. The battery, set of controls, airflow dial, tank, and mouthpiece are mounted in the upper housing. The tray pivots to the upper housing at a heating tray hinge. The tray has an open position and a closed position. The heating vessel has a heating vessel center and if cylindrical or circular or conical, may have a radius.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective right side view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective left side view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a left view of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a right side view of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross-section diagram.

FIG. 11 is a cross-section diagram showing the airflow dial rotated by a half turn.

The following call out list of elements can be a useful guide in referencing the elements of the drawings.

-   20 Airflow Dial -   21 Dial Vent Opening -   22 Dial Grip -   23 Right Grille -   24 Left Grille -   25 Grip Backer -   26 Grip Gap -   30 Tray -   31 Tray Swivel -   32 Tray Upper Edge -   33 Tray Lower Edge -   34 Tray Extension -   35 Tray Extension Retainer -   36 Tray Extension Retainer Upper Edge -   37 Tray Extension Retainer Bevel -   40 Tank -   41 Tank Indent -   42 Tank Indent Lower Face -   43 Tank Indent Right Face -   44 Tank Indent Upper Face -   50 Mouth Piece -   51 Mouth Piece Opening -   52 Mouth Piece Flare -   53 Mouth Piece Base -   54 Mouth Piece Upper Bevel -   60 Controls -   61 Control Panel -   70 Upper Housing -   71 Upper Housing Mouth Piece Ridge -   171 Housing Rear Face -   172 Housing Middle Face -   173 Housing Front Face -   120 Horizontal Intake Air Conduit -   121 Downward Intake Air Conduit -   122 Intake Air Conduit Stem -   123 Vessel Threading -   124 Dial Air Exhaust Passage -   125 Mixing Chamber -   126 Dial Upper Pivot Joint -   127 Dial Lower Pivot Joint -   128 Dial Upper Pivot Seal -   129 Dial Lower Pivot Seal -   141 Tank Hollow -   142 Mouthpiece Conduit -   143 Tank Upper Step -   144 Tank Lower Stem -   145 Tank Lower Stem Cover -   146 Lower Stem Conduit -   147 Upper Stem Conduit -   148 Upper Stem Conduit Outlet -   149 Lower Stem Conduit Opening -   150 Heating Chamber -   151 Heating Vessel -   152 Heating Element -   153 Battery -   154 Printed Circuit Board -   155 Circuit Board Mount -   156 Control Mounting Surface -   157 Heating Tray Hinge -   158 Heat Shield -   159 Electrical Contact -   160 Center Of Heating Chamber -   161 Air Intake Airflow -   162 Internal Air Flow -   163 Air Exhaust

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As seen in FIG. 1 , the present invention is an electronic vaporizer having controls 60 mounted on an upper housing 70 with a lower tray 30 being swivel attached to the upper housing 70. The mouthpiece 50 is connected to the upper housing 70. The mouthpiece 50 has a mouthpiece upper bevel 54 circumferentially disposed around a mouthpiece opening 51. The mouthpiece 50 has a mouthpiece flare 52 which is a wider base than the mouthpiece upper bevel 54. The mouthpiece base 53 is disposed within a hollow formed by an upper housing mouthpiece ridge 71. A user has access to controls 60 and a control panel 61 mounted to the controls 60. The controls 60 are mounted to the upper housing 70 on a side of the upper housing 70. The tank 40 fits within the upper housing 70 and the upper housing 70 has a tank indent 41 so that the tank 40 is partially shown. A tank indent 41 has a tank indent lower face 42, a tank indent right face 43, a tank indent upper face 44, and a tank indent left face 45 defining a window to view the tank 40 through the upper housing 70. The tank 40 is preferably generally cylindrical in shape and may have a glass exterior, or a stainless steel exterior.

An airflow dial 20 is attached to a lower portion of the upper housing 70. The airflow dial 20 has a dial vent opening 21 disposed in a gap in the dial grip 22. The right grille 23 has 3 diagonal openings and is mounted on the upper housing 70 with the tray 30 immediately below. The tray upper edge 32 may enclose a lower edge of the right grille 23. The tray 30 has a tray swivel 31 so that the tray 30 swivels away from the upper housing 70 at a tray upper edge 32. The tray also has a tray lower edge 33 which forms a base foot for the electronic vaporizer. The tray 30 may interface with the upper housing 70 at a tray latch which is formed at a tray extension 34 of the tray 30 extending over a tray extension retainer 35 of the upper housing 70. The tray extension retainer 35 may have a ramp or slope and may have a mechanical detent mechanism for clicking in.

As seen in FIG. 2 , the upper housing mouthpiece ridge 71 forms a mouthpiece indent 55 that retains the mouthpiece base 53 of the mouthpiece 50. The tray connection may further include a tray extension retainer upper edge 36 of the tray extension 34 that engages a tray extension retainer bevel 37 of the tray extension retainer 35.

The upper housing 70 preferably includes a housing rear face 171 with a recessed housing middle face 172 and a housing front face 173 formed at three different levels to provide a profiled grip for the upper housing 70.

As seen in FIG. 3 , a grip backer 25 can support the dial grip 22 of the airflow dial 20. A grip gap 26 can be formed on the grip backer 25. The grip backer 25 preferably fits around the airflow dial 20. The airflow dial 20 can be rotated 360 degrees and can be rotated more than a few turns in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. When a user turns the airflow down 20, the airflow dial changes the flow of air downward into the heating chamber. Preferably, the grip gap 26 is a tall rectangle shape that has a grip gap height greater than a grip gap width. The airflow dial acts as an air intake during user inhalation. The airflow dial 20 has an air gap between the dial grip 22 and the right grille 23 and the left grille 24. When the airflow dial 20 is turned so that the grip gap 26 is facing toward the interior, the airflow passes through the right grille 23 and the left grille 24. The airflow dial 20 is not electronic but rather mechanically controls the flow of air.

As seen in FIG. 4 , the airflow dial 20 fits between the left grille 24, the tray 30 and the tank 40. The tank 40 connects to the mouth piece 50 so that air aspirated through the airflow dial 20 passes through the heating chamber, then through the tank 40 before exiting to the mouthpiece 50. The controls 60 are mounted on a control panel 61 on the upper housing 70. Air passes through the airflow dial twice. The first time, the air passes horizontally in a radial direction from a circumferential periphery towards the center of the airflow dial before exiting downwardly. The second time, the air passes from the heating chamber upwardly in a generally vertical direction through the airflow dial. The airflow conduits through the airflow dial are preferably collinearly oriented.

The controls 60 are preferably electronic and configured for vaporizing concentrate or oil. The device may have modular removable or replaceable parts such as heaters. Preferably, the controls provide for six different preset temperatures at 500° F., 520° F., 540° F., 560° F., 580° F., and 600° F. The controls 60 also have a graphic or text LCD display. The display preferably includes a temperature indicator, and a countdown timer. Preferably, a battery indicator indicates the battery level, and a vibration on off symbol can indicate the status of power and vibration indications. The buttons on the controls 60 may include a power button, a fire button, or a combined power and fire button. Additional buttons may include an increase temperature button and decrease temperature button. The increase temperature button can be a generic + symbol having navigation function, and the decrease temperature button can be a generic − symbol having navigation function so as to be able to navigate through a control menu displayed on the display. The increase temperature button can be the plus button, and the decrease temperature button can be the minus button.

For example, the functions may include a device on which requires pressing the power button five times within two seconds, and the functions may include a device off which requires pressing the power button five times within two seconds. The temperature setting can be controlled using the up and down, or plus and minus symbols to cycle through the preset temperatures. The heat on can be activated by pressing and holding the power button for three seconds. The heat off command future can be activated by pressing the power button twice within one second. The extend session timer can occur when the plus button is pressed two times within one second. The reset function can be activated when all three buttons are pressed and held for ten seconds. The change temperature function can be activated when the plus or minus buttons are held for five seconds. A stealth mode function can be enabled where the screen only shows when the keys are pressed and stays on for only five seconds. The screen can have a backlit LED that provides an LED function for five seconds before turning off. A vibration on and off feature can provide a vibration when a function is activated. For example, holding the power and minus button for five seconds can activate and deactivate the vibration feature. A vibration generator such as a motor with an eccentric mass can be installed in the housing of the electronic vaporizer. The device settings can be preset for 30 seconds with a 20 second increment time extension up to 60 seconds. The default starting temperature can be set at 500° F. The default values can be saved based upon the last settings before turning off the device. In this situation, the default values will be saved to a persistent memory. The default units can be in Fahrenheit for the United States, and Celsius in other countries.

As seen in FIGS. 5-7 , the dial vent opening 21 and the dial grip 22 both protrude slightly beyond the tray 30, and the upper housing.

As seen in FIG. 10 , the cross-section diagram shows a tank 40 with a tank hollow 141, the mouthpiece conduit 142 has a flared shape. At the base of the mouthpiece, the upper stem conduit outlet 148 provides a vapor passage for the user to inhale vapor. The tank upper stem 143 has a circuitous passage to prevent liquid spills, however still has an upper stem conduit 147 to provide vapor passage. Similarly, the tank lower stem 144 also has a circuitous passage through a lower stem conduit 146 that draws heated vapor from a heating chamber 150. The tank lower stem 144 has a tank lower stem cover 145 that provides a circuitous passage through the lower stem conduit also to prevent loss of liquid into the heating chamber 150.

The battery 153 is housed within the upper housing 70 and powers a printed circuit board 154. The circuit board 154 is mounted to a circuit board mount 155 and the control mounting surface 156 is formed over the circuit board mount 155.

The heating tray hinge 157 provides a swivel for the tray to swivel away from the upper housing. When the heating tray hinge 157 is in closed position, the dial air exhaust passage 124 is aligned to the heating chamber 150. The heating chamber 150 has a heating vessel 151 heated by a heating element 152. Optionally, the heating vessel 151 can be removed for cleaning by vessel threading 123. Alternatively, the vessel threading 123 is omitted, and the heating vessel 151 is press fit into the tray 30. The heating element 152 has an electrical contact 159, and the electrical contact 159 is powered by the battery 153. The heating element 152 is housed within a heat shield 158. The heat shield 158 can be formed as an enclosure and the enclosure can be formed with the tray 30. The heating vessel 151 can be attached magnetically.

The air intake dial is a key feature of the present invention. The air intake dial has a horizontal intake air conduit 120 that takes air at the dial grip 22 at the dial vent opening 21. The air intake dial can be made of metal such that it is conductive to heat and where the horizontal intake air conduit 120 has a heat transfer from the heating chamber 150. Alternatively, the conduits can be made of ceramic or a combination of metal and ceramic. If the horizontal intake air conduit 122 heats to a particular temperature, the intake air can be preheated. The horizontal intake air conduit 120 exits at a downward intake air conduit 121 which is aimed at the articles being vaporized. The horizontal intake air conduit 120 is housed within the intake air conduit stem 122. The intake air conduit stem 122 includes the downward intake air conduit 121. The downward intake air conduit 121 is off-center such that when it is rotated, it is halfway between the center of the heating chamber 150 and the edge of the heating chamber 150. A user can rotate the airflow dial 20 which rotates the position of the downward intake air conduit 121. In this manner, the user can direct air at different portions of the heating chamber 150 so as to provide more even heating.

The intake air been directed downwardly into the heating chamber 150, then produces vapor which exits upwardly through the dial air exhaust passage 124. The dial air exhaust passage 124 is preferably formed as a circular opening in the airflow dial 20 which forms a U shaped airflow that can be rotated. During use, the rotating U-shaped airflow provides vaporization air for vaporizing contents. The dial air exhaust passage 124 passes through the airflow dial 20 and encompasses a distance between generally the edge of the heating chamber 150 and the center of the heating chamber 150 such that the cross-section of the dial air exhaust passage 124 is greater than the downward intake air conduit 121. The downward intake air conduit 121 thus has a faster flow rate than the flow rate at the dial air exhaust passage 124. The faster flow rate blows at the contents in the heating chamber 152 thereby optimizing vaporization. The downward intake air conduit 121 can have a cross-section that is smaller than the horizontal intake air conduit 120 so that it forms a small flush nozzle.

The airflow dial 20 has a dial upper pivot seal 128 of the dial upper pivot joint 126 and a dial lower pivot seal 129 of the dial lower pivot joint 127 to allow an airtight seal of the airflow dial 20 while the airflow dial 20 rotates. The dial upper pivot seal 128 and the dial upper pivot joint 126 are formed between the mixing chamber 125 immediately above the airflow dial 20, and the airflow dial 20. The dial lower pivot seal 129 and the dial lower pivot joint 127 is formed between the airflow doll 20 and bottom of the upper housing 70 which is immediately above the tray upper edge 32. As the vapor passes from the dial air exhaust passage 124 to the mixing chamber 125, the cross-section again expands so as to generate turbulence. Then, the vapor passes through the lower stem conduit 146 of the tank 40 where the vapor cools by heat transfer to the liquid in the tank. The tank is preferably spill proof while allowing air passage through it.

During use, a user first turns on the device using the power button which displays a logo for a few seconds. Then the user flips open the door to expose the heater unit. The user then places their material at the bottom surface of the ceramic heater unit. The user can then close the tray door. The user can then select the desired temperature and start the heating process. The temperature is preferably displayed on the LCD display as it increases to the target set temperature. Once the desired temperature is reached, there will be a quick vibration and the temperature display will switch to a 30 second countdown timer to start the session. During the session, the user can extend the time in 20 second increments up to 60 seconds by pressing the plus button two times in quick succession. The user can slowly rotate the airflow dial 20 so that airflow blows downwardly to different parts of the heating chamber to provide even heating of contents. Turning the airflow dial 20 does not turn the heating chamber, but changes the airflow path.

At anytime during the heating process or during the session, the user can turn off the heater by pressing the power button 2 times within one second. Once the countdown timer reaches 0, the user receives another quick vibration indication from the vibration mechanism mounted in the housing. The timer will switch to the temperature display. The temperature units can be switched by holding the plus and minus buttons together for five seconds. The vibration can also be turned on or off by holding the power and the minus button for five seconds. If the door is not closed, the heater cannot be turned on. A door sensor in the form of a magnet can be added to the door for automatically turning off the heater or to not allow the heater to activate unless the door is closed. The display will indicate that the door must be closed to begin heating. The heater is not in the device, the display will show that there is no heater instead of turning on. If the device is turned off with five clicks of the power button, a logo can be displayed for a few seconds.

The airflow begins at the air intake airflow 161 which passes through the center of heating chamber 160 as internal air flow 162, and then exhausts at air exhaust 163.

FIG. 11 is a cross-section diagram showing the airflow dial rotated by 180 degrees. Optionally, a motor can turn the dial based upon an algorithm. A sensor such as an optical sensor can sense the position of the dial. Data can be collected by Bluetooth for analysis and data logging such as temperature, and usage. 

1. An electronic vaporizer comprising: a. a battery; b. a set of controls; c. a heating vessel activated by the set of controls, wherein the heating vessel has a heating vessel center; d. an airflow dial formed above the heating vessel, wherein the airflow dial has a downward intake air conduit for directing intake airflow toward the heating chamber at a location off-center from the center of the heating chamber, wherein the airflow dial is configured to be rotatable at least 180 degrees; e. a dial air exhaust passage, wherein the dial air exhaust passage is formed through the airflow dial; f. a tank configured to receive a liquid, wherein the tank is in airflow connection to the airflow dial; and g. a mouthpiece in airflow connection to the tank.
 2. The electronic vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the dial air exhaust passage exhausts to a mixing chamber, and wherein the mixing chamber exhausts to the tank.
 3. The electronic vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the dial air exhaust passage is off-center from the heating vessel center.
 4. The electronic vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the airflow dial has a horizontal intake air conduit passing air to a downward intake air conduit.
 5. The electronic vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the airflow dial has a dial upper pivot and a dial lower pivot.
 6. The electronic vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the airflow dial has a dial grip with a dial vent opening formed on a grip gap of the airflow dial.
 7. The electronic vaporizer of claim 1, further including a right air grille mounted to a right side of the airflow dial, and a left air grille mounted to a left side of the airflow dial, wherein the right air grille and the left air grille both have air grille openings to allow airflow through the right air grille and the left air grille.
 8. The electronic vaporizer of claim 1, further including an upper housing fit over a tray, wherein the heating vessel is mounted in the tray, and wherein the battery, set of controls, airflow dial, tank, and mouthpiece are mounted in the upper housing.
 9. The electronic vaporizer of claim 8, wherein the tray pivots to the upper housing at a heating tray hinge, wherein the tray has an open position and a closed position.
 10. The electronic vaporizer of claim 9, wherein the dial air exhaust passage exhausts to a mixing chamber, and wherein the mixing chamber exhausts to the tank.
 11. The electronic vaporizer of claim 9, wherein the dial air exhaust passage is off-center from the heating vessel center.
 12. The electronic vaporizer of claim 9, wherein the airflow dial has a horizontal intake air conduit passing air to a downward intake air conduit.
 13. The electronic vaporizer of claim 9, wherein the airflow dial has a dial upper pivot and a dial lower pivot.
 14. The electronic vaporizer of claim 9, wherein the airflow dial has a dial grip with a dial vent opening formed on a grip gap of the airflow dial.
 15. The electronic vaporizer of claim 9, further including a right air grille mounted to a right side of the airflow dial, and a left air grille mounted to a left side of the airflow dial, wherein the right air grille and the left air grille both have air grille openings to allow airflow through the right air grille and the left air grille. 